Singapore morning news for February 22

Singapore morning news for February 22
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Singapore morning newsSingapore wants more ‘sustainable’ foreign labour dependency
Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said the tightening in foreign worker rules announced in the budget this week was a “surgical” move targeted at specific industries to make the labour market more sustainable.
— The Edge Singapore

Motorists to face harsher penalties for serious offences as MHA reviews traffic laws
Motorists found guilty of serious traffic offences will face harsher penalties as part of proposed changes to the Road Traffic Act.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Singapore Has a Better Bali on Its Doorstep, Developer Says
Singapore’s second-largest developer has a suggestion for the government: re-position the billionaire enclave of Sentosa as a tourism mecca like Bali.
— Bloomberg

Singapore wants to remain open to both China and US: Chan Chun Sing
Singapore is looking for a middle ground so it can remain open to both the United States and China amid increasing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Record high in trade between Singapore and the European Union
Trade in goods between Singapore and the European Union reached a record high of 58.1 billion euros (S$89 billion) in 2018, a 9 per cent increase from 2017, latest data from the European Commission shows.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

SembMarine at ‘turning point’ but future order wins critical: analysts
Analysts believe Sembcorp Marine (SMM) could be on the cusp of a turnaround, after swinging out of the red with earnings of $5.9 million for 4Q18.
— The Edge Singapore

Tax hike likely to hit commercial vehicle owners more than diesel car drivers: Experts
With the number of diesel cars rising despite the imposition of a 10-cents-a-litre tax in 2017, experts believe the increase in diesel duty this year is likely to have a greater impact on the commercial vehicle market than on private car owners.
— Today Online

Asia Distillates-Jet fuel cash discounts widen, Singapore middle distillate stocks rise
Asia’s cash discounts for jet fuel widened on Thursday as middle distillate inventories in Singapore climbed to their highest levels in a month.
— Reuters

Jolovan Wham fined for organising public assembly without permit, chooses to go to jail instead
Social worker and activist Jolovan Wham was on Thursday (Feb 21) fined S$3,200 over a public assembly he organised two years ago without a permit and refusing to sign a police statement.
– Channel NewsAsia(very annoying popups)

Malaysia-Singapore water talks slow going, without a resolution in sight yet
Heated talks on the water price review between Malaysia and Singapore is continuing with Attorney-Generals of both countries seeking a resolution.
— The Independent

Law and Foreign Minister shares image of him cradling a cat after his fellow Nee Soon MP got flamed for comments on cat feeders
After Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC Dr Lee Bee Wah was bombarded by netizens for wanting to disallow cat feeders to leave food unattended for two hours, Law and Foreign Minister K Shanmugam defended her on this issue.
— The Online Citizen

NEA calls for tender for food waste conveyance system at Tampines hawker centre
THE National Environment Agency (NEA) is calling for tenders for the installation and maintenance of an automated food waste conveyance system at one of Singapore’s seven social enterprise hawker centres – Our Tampines Hub (OTH) Hawker Centre.
— The Business Times

The Govt will not absorb GST for essential items to help low-middle income families: Heng Swee Keat
The day after he laid out the Government’s economic plan for 2019, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat fielded questions on the budget on Channel NewsAsia’s Budget 2019 Forum, that was broadcast live on national television and on Facebook.
— The Independent

Higher fines for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists from April: MHA
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will raise fines for road traffic offences starting Apr 1, in a bid to strengthen deterrence against irresponsible driving.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Health ministry asks medical council to review surgeon’s S$100,000 fine
Amid an outcry among local doctors, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has tasked the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) to apply to the court to review a S$100,000 fine recently imposed on orthopaedic surgeon Lim Lian Arn “and for the appropriate revisions to be made”.
— Today Online

Feeding the 10 billion
Our current diets are bad for our health and harming the planet. Two billion people are now overweight or obese.
— The Edge Singapore

‘Singapore is not Malaysia’, unfortunately the popular US luxe website for women thinks it’s one and the same
Despite more than 50 years of independence, web sites can still make the mistake of thinking Singapore is part of Malaysia.
— The Independent

Spotlight: Cruising From Singapore
There are several reasons why people go on a luxury cruise: a perfect trip on the ocean, an escape from the busy and hustle of the city life, a break from routine, to discover new cultures through a voyage, reconnecting with oneself, a romantic getaway or for some quality family time.
— Khmer Times

The 25 best things to do in Singapore if you love design
Once ruled by Malaysian royalty, then a subject of British colonial rule for more than a century, the city-state of Singapore has become a center of global finance since it gained its independence in 1965.
— Curbed

MINDEF boosts cyber defence with Cyber Expert Schemes and New Training School
Two new cyber expert schemes were launched on Wednesday (20 February), the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced in a press release.
— The Online Citizen

PM Lee Hsien Loong hosts Chap Goh Mei lunch with PAP MPs at Istana
On February 19 (Tuesday), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong celebrated the 15th day of Chinese New Year known as Chap Goh Mei by hosting a lunch at the Istana with several generations of Members of Parliament from the People’s Action Party (PAP).
— The Independent

Singapore Medical Group kept at ‘buy’ on strong FY18 results, CHAS investment
RHB Research is maintaining Singapore Medical Group (SMG) at “buy” on news that shareholder CHA Healthcare Singapore (CHAS) is raising its stake in the group.
— The Edge Singapore

Logistics start-up Lalamove raises US$300m in Series D round to expand in Asia
Logistics service provider Lalamove has raised US$300 million (S$405.5 million) in Series D funds; the D1 round was led by Hillhouse Capital and the D2 round was led by Sequoia China.
— The Straits Times 

More protection for victims abused by intimate partners: Shanmugam
Victims of abuse by their close partners and who face possible violence might soon be able to get an expedited protection order within 24 hours, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Thursday (Feb 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Grab ranked 2nd among world’s 50 most innovative companies
Ride-hailing giant Grab has taken the second spot among the world’s 50 most innovative companies this year in a list published by Fast Company, an American-based global business publication.
— Today Online

Biolidics partners Japan’s Sysmex Corp for cancer-related R&D
Biolidics Limited has established a strategic partnership with Sysmex Corporation, a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed supplier of hematology instruments, to collaborate on the development of laboratory assays in the field of circulating tumour cells.
— The Edge Singapore

Heng Swee Keat remains tight-lipped on speculation that Budget 2019 signals an upcoming election
Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat remained tight-lipped on whether Budget 2019 is an ‘election budget’ as he fielded questions on Channel NewsAsia’s Budget 2019 Forum, that was broadcast live on national television and on Facebook, this week.
— The Independent

ERA Realty Network aims to be the market leader in the region
Property firm ERA Realty Network is rolling out a service tailored for wealthy buyers across the Asia Pacific with the aim of becoming the market leader in the region.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

How good is Singapore for women to work in?
Singapore is far from being the best country for women to work in, a new International Women’s Day research by Finder has revealed.
— Human Resources Onlines

52 WEEKENDS IN SINGAPORE
Singapore is one of the most enthralling start and end points for cruising in Asia, as the city-state is always buzzing with something to see and do.
— Khmer Times

Singapore-registered Paladin Holdings is in the hotseat as questions surface about its legitimacy
Paladin Holdings directors include one German national and an Australian based on Singapore and one Australian based in Australia. The company was awarded more than A$420 million (S$406 million) – about S$16.45 million a month – in contracts by the Australian government to provide security services at their Pacific refugee camps – three camps located on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.
— The Online Citizen

Telepod, Neuron to be charged for providing PMD-sharing services illegally: LTA
E-scooter sharing operators Telepod and Neuron Mobility are set to be charged in court for providing services at public places without a licence or exemption, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said in a news release on Thursday (Feb 21).
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

Little known Singaporean firm under scrutiny in Australia for procuring S$407 million in security contracts
A little-known Singaporean company, Paladin Holdings Pte has been in the limelight in Australian news recently for being awarded A$420 million (S $407 million) in contracts to provide security services in refugee detention centers in Manus Island, which is part of Papua New Guinea.
— The Independent

CityDev kept at ‘buy’ amid record full-year revenue
Jefferies Singapore is keeping its “buy” recommendation on City Developments with a target price of $12.00, after the property developer beat revenue expectations for FY18.
— The Edge Singapore

Slow take-up rate for insurance scheme tailored for freelance instructors, despite earlier clamour
Freelance coaches have long clamoured for an insurance scheme specifically tailored for them that could ensure their income is not severely affected should they sustain injuries or illnesses.
— Today Online

The Biggest REIT in Singapore and Its Counterpart in Malaysia
Singapore’s and Malaysia’s biggest REITs go head-to-head.
— The Motley Fool

PC maker Lenovo returns to Q3 profit, beating estimates
Lenovo Group Ltd said on Thursday (Feb 21) it swung back to a net profit in the December quarter, beating market expectations, due to a strong performance across its major business groups.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

Is the Prime Minister’s job to hold his ministers to account or to be their echo chamber?
After a long silence of over three weeks, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong weighed in on the death of actor Aloysius Pang, the latest in a spate of training fatalities,
— The Online Citizen

LGT opens wealth management office in Thailand for high networth investors
LGT, the international private banking and asset management group owned by the Princely House of Liechtenstein, has opened its wealth management business in Thailand.
— The Edge Singapore

Five suspected drug offenders nabbed in CNB operation, almost 1kg of heroin seized
Five suspected drug offenders were arrested on Wednesday (Feb 20) in a pre-dawn operation conducted by the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), it said in a press release on Thursday.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

High Court allows Hyflux to convene meeting with creditors over restructuring proposal
FThe High Court has approved an application by embattled water treatment firm Hyflux and three of its subsidiaries for leave to convene a scheme meeting with all its creditors over its proposed restructuring.
— The Straits Times (annoying popups)

It’s onward and upward for CapitaLand going into FY19, say analysts
CGS-CIMB Research, DBS Vickers Securities and OCBC Investment Research are maintaining “buy” on CapitaLand with the respective price targets of $3.56, $3.62 and $3.98, after the group posted 71.2% higher earnings of $476 million for the 4Q ended Dec 2018.
— The Edge Singapore

Netizens support footballer Ben Davis, although FAS is “extremely disappointed” that he defaulted his NS obligations
On Monday (18 February), the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) noted that they are “extremely disappointed” at Fulham footballer Benjamin Davis for defaulting his National Service (NS) obligations.
— The Online Citizen

Elderly motorcyclist dies, SBS Transit bus driver arrested in Ang Mo Kio accident
A 70-year-old motorcyclist died in an accident involving an SBS Transit bus and a lorry in Ang Mo Kio early on Thursday morning (Feb 21). The bus driver, a 46-year-old man, has been arrested for causing death by a negligent act.
— Channel NewsAsia (very annoying popups)

 

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Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Singapore morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Singapore news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

 

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Piseth Pov graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics Science from the Royal University of Law and Economics, Phnom Penh in 2017, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Communications from Western University, Phnom Penh, the same year.

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